Barcelona-based artist Germán Bel, aka Fasim, recently fashioned a large-scale mural for BesArt The River Museum. Titled Stop Wars!, the hugely impressive work is a poetic reflection on armed conflict, blending classical iconography with images of war, fragmented bodies, snakes, hybrid figures, and other symbolic forms in Fasim’s distinctive visual language.
The mural is part of BesArt The River Museum, a momentous open-air urban art project promoted by the Mediterranean Street Art Association (AMSA). Founded and directed by David Hernández and curated by Jordi Rubio, the museum stretches for more than 18 kilometers along the Besòs River, linking Barcelona, Sant Adrià de Besòs, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet in one of Europe’s most extensive public art initiatives.
Featured above is the mural in its entirety. What follows are several close-ups — including those documenting the artist at work:
First segment of the mural with assembled elements: Greek mythology, a tank, a tiger, and a piece of Spider-Man
Second segment of the mural with assembled elements: Artemis, the goddess of the hunt; the Hydra from Greek mythology; a tiger; and characters from the Marvel universe
Fasim at work with cyclist passing through
Fasim at work, close-up
All photos courtesy BesArt 2026
Established by local community members in 2024, Welling Walls continues the transformation of Welling Court and its neighboring blocks into an intriguing open-air gallery. The mural pictured above was painted by Queens-native illustrator and muralist Annabelle Popa. Several more murals captured last week in the blazing heat at this western Astoria site follow:
Colombian American artist Felix Morelo
NYC-based Mad Vaillan
Brooklyn-native Panic Rodriguez
NYC-based Japanese artist Shiro One
Veteran style master Yes One
Japanese American artist Kosuke James
Queens-based Mexican artist Onel
Astoria-based self-taught Filipino artist Jason B
Colombia-born, NYC-based art director and artist Jonathan Ramírez Ceballos
Photos by Lois Stavsky
Under the curatorial direction of Staten Island-born actor, producer, artist and spiritual advisor Gano Grills, a new mural has surfaced in the Wu-Tang Clan District in the Park Hill neighborhood of Clifton, Staten Island. Honoring Wu-Tang Clan visionary co-founder Oliver “Power” Grant who died earlier this year following a battle with pancreatic cancer, it features the talents of Gano, Austin Sepulveda, John Echo and Will Power.
Featured above is Gano at work. More images captured last week in Park Hill follow:
Gano, closer-up
Texas-based muralist Austin Sepulveda‘s portrait of Oliver “Power” Grant
Staten Island-based veteran graffiti writer and tattooist John Echo and Texas-based Austin Sepulveda, Wu-Tang hand gesture
Will Power at work on a younger version of Oliver “Power” Grant
Will Power‘s completed mural
Photo credits: 1, 3, & 5 Lois Stavsky; 2 & 4 Tara Murray; and 6 Will Power; special thanks to Will Power for sharing the mural’s backstory with us.
Earlier this month, the distinctly innovative Valencia-based duo PichiAvo brought their talents to Athens, Greece. Working in their signature style—fusing classical figures with bold graffiti writing—they pay homage to Athena, the city’s patron goddess, whose mythological gift of the olive tree symbolizes peace and prosperity.
Conceived as a self-funded artistic gesture to Athens, the duo’s first major project in Greece stylishly fosters a dialogue between ancient mythology and contemporary urban culture.
Developed over the course of more than two years, PichiAvo’s gift to the city has strikingly exalted Athens’ visual landscape.
Close-up
Aerial view 
Work in progress
The artists
All photos courtesy Maximus Communications
Under the curatorial direction of Jeff Beler, the walls on Washington Avenue off Clark Place have once again been transformed. Celebrating pop culture anniversaries through a range of styles and subjects, the new murals brim with whimsy and charm. Pictured above is Brooklyn-based artist Kelvin Morel aka Kam’s vibrant salute to the Chinese Year of the Horse. A small selection of images I captured follow:
NYC-based artist and arts educator Marissa Molina celebrates 35 years of Sonic
Rio de Janeiro-born, Brooklyn-based artist Barbtropolis celebrates the World Cup 2026
Queens-based artist LeCrue Eyebrows dedicates his mural to 50 years of Hotel California
GRAFSTRACT originator Fumero celebrates Tina Turner
Multidisciplinary artist Jordana Alexis Abrenica celebrates 100 years of Miles Davis
The prolific Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Jason Naylor salutes Wu Tang
Photos by Lois Stavsky
An extension of Underhill Walls and just a short walk away, Washington Walls continues to bring intrigue and beauty to a formerly neglected crosswalk in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. The whimsical image featured above was painted by multidisciplinary Brooklyn-based artist Jamia. What follows are a few more murals painted this past fall — all under the curatorial direction of Jeff Beler.
Miami-based Argentinian muralist Chuave
Queens-based Colombian multimedia artist Fernando Garcia aka Nandos
Brooklyn-based artist Kelvin Morel aka Kam
Queens native Jeff Rose King
Buenos Aires-born, NYC-based artist Sonni
Photos: Lois Stavsky
Pictured above is New York–based artist Brandon Sines‘ visual ode to NYC featuring his beloved, magical creation Frank Ape. What follows are several more homages to NYC off and on Houston Street that I captured this past Sunday.
The legendary Bronx-based artist John “Crash” Matos salutes the late Keith Haring in his ode to Downtown NYC. This mural also appears on the walls of the Ridge Hotel directly off East Houston Street.
Close-up of John “Crash” Matos mural featuring the artist’s signature eye
GRAFSTRACT originator Fumero brings his distinct aesthetic to Avalon Chemists’ on the corner of Houston & 2nd Avenue
Japanese artist Tomokazu Matsuyama‘s “homage to New York’s diversity” on the iconic Bowery Wall
Photos: Lois Stavsky
